Mask



March 21, 1939. R HQUK 2,151,427

MASK

Filed Oct. 30, 1937 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1939 i v UNITEDHSTATES PATENT OFFICE MASK Addison R. Honk, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application October 30, 1937, Serial No. 171,830

4 Claims. (01. 91-65) This invention relates to amask which is adaptwhile the rib I4 may be formed solid. In the ed to be applied to an article for decorating cerform illustrated it is desirable to paint the inside tain portions of the article by applying a coating of the channels and the back side of the grille, thereto such as by painting. While the coating leaving the upper surface, that surface shown in 5 may be applied by dipping, brushing or the like, Fig. 1, unpainted which may be chromium plated. it is preferable to apply the coating by spraying. It will be noted that the upper surface of the rib In the manufacture of articles, such as grilles l4, which extends below the surface of the ribs for automobile radiators, it is desirable for decl6 and [2, may be painted and is unprotected. orative purposes to paint certain portions of the The improved mask is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10 grille and to chromium plate or to leave un- 3 overlying the surface of the grille to be pro- 10 painted other portions of the grille. Masks or tested. This improved mask comprises a header stencils have been used for this purpose which portion l8 which, as shown, is hollow and conhave been satisfactory when applying the paint nected to a supply of fluid pressure through a condirectly over the mask on a single surface but nection 20. Extending transversely from the are unsatisfactory when the paint is applied header l8 are a plurality of hollow ribs 22 which 15 from other directions such as spraying directly terminate in a vertical connecting member 24. against the edge of the mask when painting a If desired a central connecting member 26 may side of the article which is at right angles to the be formed to connect the ribs for accurate spacsurface of the article where the paint is not to ing. The under surface of the header l8 and be applied. ribs 22 is formed concave as shown at 28 in Figs. 20

, It is an object of this invention to provide a 2 and 3, thus providing aspace between the upper pressure between the mask and the surface of surface of the ribs I2 and I6 and the under surthe article to be protected from the paint. face of the ribs 22 and header IS. The under Another object of the invention is to provide surface of the rib l6 and headers l8 are provided a hollow mask so that a supply of fluid pressure with a plurality of spaced openings 30 forming 5 may be supplied to the interior thereof and to a communication between the air space 28 and conduct the pressure through openings in the the hollow ribs l6 and header l8. surface of the mask adjacent the surface of the In order to properly position the mask on the work to be protected from the paint. grille, inwardly extending flanges 32 have been 30 A further object of the invention is to provide provided on the ends of the vertical connecting 30 a depressed surface of the face of the mask which member to be positioned against the ends of the overlies the surface to be protected with only vertical rib M. A flange 34 is provided on the the edges of the mask in engagement with the under surface of the-connecting member to be surface to be protected so that there is a space received against the under surface of the rib I4.

35 between the two surfaces. These ribs position one end of the mask both 35 Other objects and advantages of the invention vertically and transversely on the grille. At the will more fully appear from the following deopposite side there has been provided a flange scription: 36 at one end thereof for engagement with one Fig. 1 is a view showing a portion of an autoend of the grille in order to provide a small 40 mobile radiator grille with the mask applied amount of contact of the flange 36 with the grille. 4o thereto, portions of the mask being broken away. The contacting surface thereof may be formed Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1. pointed as illustrated by the dotted lines 38.

Fig.3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Along one edge of the header Hi there has been and provided a resilient clip 40 which engages the Fig. 4 is a view showing in side elevation an under side of the channel rib l2 to position the 45 automobile grille for use on an automobile. header end of the mask on the grille. This resil- Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated in ient member 40 may be detachably secured to Fig. 4 a portion of a radiator grille for an autothe header by means of a screw 42. mobile having a body portion In, vertical ribs [2 When the mask is in position as shown in Figs. and I4 and horizontal ribs IS, the ribs being de- 1, 2 and 3 a fluid pressure, preferably compressed 50 tachably secured to the body portion I0. air, is supplied to the interior of the hollow ribs Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown on a l8 and 22 through the connection 20. The fluid larger scale the ribs l2, l4 and Hi. The ribs are pressure then is forced through the openings 30 integrally joined and the ribs 12 and I6 are subinto direct contact with the surface of the grille stantially channel-shaped as, shown in Fig. 2 which is to be protected from the paint. 55

Referring to Fig. 3, spray guns 44 have been illustrated as being directed upon the exposed surfaces of the ribs l6 and M. The arrows A indicate the fluid pressure escaping through the sides of the concave lower surface of the ribs 22 from the space 28.

This fluid pressure, indicated by the arrows B, forces the paint spray, indicated by the arrows A, away from any opening which might be present adjacent the contact of the mask and the grille thus the spray guns 44 may be directed at any angle with reference to the mask or opening between the mask and the grille without any of the paint entering the opening. 7

While the invention has been illustrated in connection with spraying, it will be understood that when the mask is applied the parts may be dipped in a supply of paint and the fluid pressure within the mask will prevent the paint from flowing into any possible opening between the mask and the grille.

It will be understood that various changes including the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention and it is not my intention to limit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mask for protecting portions of an article to be decorated comprising means for positioning one surface thereof in contact with a surface of the article to be decorated, and means for supplying a fluid pressure between said surfaces.

2. A mask for protecting portions of an article to be decorated comprising a hollow body portion, and means for supplying a fluid pressure to the interior of said hollow body portion, one face of said body portion adapted for engagement with the surface of that portion of the article to be protected, andprovided with a passage for conducting the fluid pressure in said hollow body portion through said face to said surface. I

3. A mask for protecting portions of an article to be decorated comprising a hollow body portion, one face of said body portion having a depressed portion therein with its outer edge portions adapted for engagement with the surface of that portion of the article to be protected, the face of said depressed portionhaving a passage and means for supplying a fluid pressure to said hollow body portion and through the passage in said depressed face to the spacev between the surface of that portion of the article to be protected and said depressed face.

4. A mask for protecting portions of an article to be decorated comprising a plurality of hollow ribs, a hollow header member having its interior communicating with the interior of said hollow ribs, said ribs having one face thereof depressed to provide contact portions at their outer edges, said depressed face having outlet means therethrough to form a communication from the hollow interior to the outside, and means in said header for supplying a fluid pressure tosaid hollow ribs and through the outlet.

ADDISQN R. HOUK. 

